Jun 12, 2018

Official Patch 8.12 Notes Released!

Introduction

Shortly after the change to marksmen, it looks like Riot has their sights on shield supports with nerfs all around to shields with decay time added in. Meanwhile, the classic Forbidden Idol tree was simultaneously nerfed, resulting in an indirect nerf to all heal supports as well. Check out the full scope of changes below!

Summary

Patch 8.12 notes

BY AETHER, GENTLEMAN GUSTAF

In recent history, we've seen mage changes in 8.9, jungle shifts in 8.10, and most recently marksman adjustments in 8.11. 8.12 ends this "midseason" timeframe—so named because we're in the middle of the season but no single patch was kingmade as a "Midseason" event. A few final systems changes are in this patch, but our focus has otherwise already shifted to followup. The plan between now and preseason is mainly to smooth out the rough edges and balance issues, meaning until preseason comes around, patches will be less disruptive than what you've seen over the past few months.

Back to 8.12! We're tuning down the duration of allied shield abilities and the strength of the Forbidden Idol item line with the goal of making shields fairer for enemies to play against. If you were watching PBE this patch, you also saw some item changes to help fighters carry late-game teamfights. Fighters have gotten stronger over the past few patches thanks to what's changed around them, and the landscape is still rapidly shifting. We're holding off on most of these changes until the dust clears, lest we power up a class that no longer needs the help.

GLHF,

Mattias "Gentleman Gustaf" Lehman Paul "Aether" Perscheid

Patch Highlights

Champions

We've been watching Elise for a while, but wanted to see how she'd do with the Runic Echoes rework in 8.10 and subsequent buffs in 8.11. She's pretty far below the average Echoes jungler, so the runway's clear for direct buffs.

Base Stats

HUMAN FORM MOVEMENT SPEED325⇒330

SPIDER FORM MOVEMENT SPEED350⇒355

W - Volatile Spiderling

Ez is still running rampant after the scaling nerfs we shipped partway through last patch, so we're making it easier to boot him out of lane without letting him hit his item cost thresholds. In particular, this may leave him stuck on Tear of the Goddess (potentially not even that) without damage items for longer.

Kindred's recently taken losses from both the Rift Scuttler changes and the Zeal item nerfs. We're building on last patch's buffs (focused on adjusting Kindred's early marks to account for the Scuttler changes) with a heavier power-up this time around.

R - The Equalizer

Icebreaker deals less damage vs monsters but no longer has a cooldown against them. More units can be frozen. W costs less, now has AP ratios. E damage and ratio increased.

Sejuani's been bristling for a buff since her nerfs earlier in the season, so we’re making her early clear healthier and more engaging. We’re also giving her some itemization flexibility by letting her feel good about pickups with AP in their stat lines.

When we shipped 8.11, Taliyah landed in a weak spot. We gave her a bunch of buffs partway through the patch, which overcompensated and pushed her too high. So we're reining in one of those mid-patch buffs to a more workable middle ground.

Q - Threaded Volley

CHAMPION DAMAGE60% for rocks beyond the first⇒50% for rocks beyond the first

With no bonus AD ratios in his kit, the Sterak's shift from granting base AD to bonus AD weakens Yorick's Trinity Force damage without increasing the impact of his abilities. (Other Sterak's/Trinity Force champions in this bonus-ratio-less position are either pretty far ahead of Yorick power-wise or have other builds to lean on.) Since this build has historically been Yorick's only good offensive choice, we're giving him some buffs to offset a nerf he has no way of sidestepping.

General

LOOK AT MEMist Walkers and the Maiden now update their stats when Yorick's stats change

Yasuo

Allied Shield Abilities & Items

This pass comes in two parts: abilities that shield allies ("gifted shields") and items that increase shield strength. On the ability front, we're tightening up the timing requirements of gifted shields. Enemies should be able to play around shields in some scenarios by baiting them out and waiting for them to fall off, rather than always having to try to brute-force their way through. Shortening the duration of shields makes that counterplay more realistic in more cases and makes proper timing of shield abilities a more important skill for enchanters to master.

On the item front, the Forbidden Idol line has been incredibly stat-efficient since the introduction of heal/shield power back in Season 6. This was meant to offset supports' historical lack of income at the time, but the economy's changed in the two years since. Simple stat nerfs to these items will bring them to a more reasonable spot (particularly when stacked with each other in the late game) and hopefully give enchanters a little more freedom in the items they choose to pick up, since "not an Idol item" is now a less punishing tradeoff.

Unlike other gifted shields, Eye of the Storm comes with bonus AD that enemies want to knock off as quickly as possible. If we went with a duration reduction, waiting the shield out still wouldn't make sense as a form of counterplay since you'd just be letting Janna's carry hold onto free stats. Nuking the shield would end up feeling worse too, since there'd be much less buff duration to deny. By contrast, a decaying shield makes damage on the shield more effective while keeping the payoff for blowing it up satisfying.

E - Eye Of The Storm

NEWDECAYEye of the Storm's shield now decays over its duration after a 0.75 grace period

E - Inspire

Lulu's E has a visual indicator to let everyone know who Pix is attached to (...it's Pix). So we're able to reduce Help, Pix!'s shield duration without reducing the window Lulu has to fire a Glitterlance from her ally's location.

This change is in part an invisible Chalice of Harmony buff. With Forbidden Idol brought in line, Chalice stands a chance at making it into enchanter laning builds. Ensuring Athene's is a worthy upgrade (particularly in a world with less heal/shield power) makes that a more realistic possibility.

Items

Banner of Command was intended as a strategic-niche item that pushes a lane autonomously, forcing enemies to deal with the threat while Banner's owner is making plays elsewhere on the map. However, it’s only ever lived in two states: rarely purchased even in the situations it was meant for, or meta-warping. We’re removing Banner from the shop and taking a step back to evaluate if this item niche is both engaging and fun enough to work in League. Even if that answer is "yes," Banner would need some serious work to make a return, so this is goodbye for the foreseeable future.

Sterak's Gage was designed as a juggernaut item, but has become a Trinity Force combo piece due to granting additional base attack damage rather than bonus attack damage. For most current users (see Yorick above for notes on exceptions), swapping Sterak's to grant bonus AD is some degree of sidegrade. They'll gain damage through the bonus AD ratios in their abilities rather than Spellblade procs. On the other hand, non-Trinity Force juggernauts (and divers) can make better use of Sterak's than before.

Last-Hit Assistance

We'll continue chipping away at this over the next few patches.

TRAINING WHEELSMissing a minion last-hit by4⇒3 damage will still grant you the last hit

New Player Experience

We've updated our Tutorials! We're only flipping the switch for some new players to start, so if the disembodied lady is still telling your friend to build Thornmail Ashe, sit tight! Everyone will get the new Tutorial experience down the line once we turn it on 100%.

Emotes Update

Emote Availability

COST450 RP⇒350 RP

THANKSIf you purchased an emote for 450 RP between May 29 at 12:01 AM PT and June 11 at 11:59 PM PT, we're refunding the difference. This partial refund should appear in your account by June 26. (Questions? Head to our Player Support FAQ).

REALLY, THANKSAs a thanks to early emoters, you’ll receive an animated M’Pengu if you purchased any emotes before 8.12. He can also be crafted for 5 gemstones from June 26 – July 10.

NEWMYSTERY EMOTE TOKENSMystery Emote Tokens award a random unowned emote and will be periodically available in the store for 195 RP

New Emotes

Yikes / Okay / Joy Pengu / Go Team! / Hype Kitty

Grab all five in the Emotional Promotional bundle for 925 RP before it expires on July 10, 2018, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Bugfixes

Corki's bolts from Runaan's Hurricane are now properly converted to partial true damage against champions when they critically strike while Corki has Infinity Edge, and no longer partially convert to true damage against non-champions

Ivern can no longer channel Passive - Friend of the Forest on a small wolf or razorbeak to quickly collect them after attempting to channel his passive on the big monster in the camp

Fixed an infrequent bug where Rift Scuttler would occasionally heal back the first instance of damage dealt to it